Completed Critique The Saxons - Finished

[Ulrich]

I can send you some of the stuff which you could see on the photo if you wish. In German it is called "Meerschaum" = sea foam (?)

 

[fabrizio1969]

very very fine work!!!

 

[tiberius57]

Awesome discussion! Love it!
Look! I'll give you some insight on what challenges I faced when I painted and build this vignette. On the painting side was the extended use of leather and fur.
On the composition side was the big game. When I was planning, I tried to stay away from the concept of using even numbers of figs. but after a while, I said, here is the challenge. Lets try to make a vignette work with only 2 figs. Then I came up with the vertical development and I designed this stepped display. Till here, I played safe. It's, say we, standard or ordinary display (and it works IMHO) , but when I came closer to the end, something inside was telling me that I need a 3rd element or dimension. Then the idea with the tree came up. That red tree that I used is not the solution but is the only tree that I have at this size. I have bigger trees and they are to powerful and are detracting the eye from the figs. I said, lets see what my PF friends will say about this. And here we go. I have another solution, to try to scratch build a tree from twisted wire but here is a catch. If it is to powerful will change the balance. The eye will go strait to the tree and the figs will stay comfortable in the shade...
The composition portion of our hobby is very subjective and in this peculiar situation is not a strait forward solution. But only facing peculiar situations the door opens and we can grow.

Yes Ulrich! I would like to have a look! Danke schon!

 

[Aveleira]

Hi Zeno,

Very good job you've done. Both in painting and composing the vignette.
Without the tree it looks a lot better.
Congrats.

Regards
Pedro

 

[Fabricio_Fay]

Beautyful work!!!
I realy enjoey the colors, the cromatic combination and the contrast!!!
Congratlations!!!!

Chees forma Brasil!!!

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Blimey! ... This is superb work. As well as the outstanding painting and tones! which have a fantastic feel and visual. What I really like about this work is the fact that you have not restricted your composition to the confines of the base! an aspect which is usually over-looked. Very impressed.

Regards,

Mark

 

[megroot]

Like it very much. But I mis the three in the background. If give's something more. And yes , it could be red.
There are some trees that have red, sometimes dark purper (almost black) leaf's. The left one is the red beech, the right is the acer rubrum

 

[ChaosCossack]

Looks good with or without... but... the only thing with the tree may be that the bright red of the tree drew the eye from the figs. The tree pictured above on the left would be better. Then the structure is there without it being overpowering. Maybe wash the tree with black and purple inks over the red to darken it and try it again.

My two cents worth of nothing

Colin

 

[b00gie]

Excellent job Zeno! Everything looks amazing.
Regarding the tree, initially I thought it would be better without. Now I miss it. I think the only problem was the red color of the tree. Maybe you can find a solution for that.
Cheers,
Bogdan

 

[Colin_Fraser]

For me the problem with the tree was the material, not the colour. I too liked the presence of the tree but the one previously used didn't look like a scaled down tree of any type I recall seeing. Instead it made me think a little of a grape stem. Perhaps a scale modelled tree of a type native to the setting would be good.

Colin

 

[Babelfish]

I'm still following this discussion with interest and I would bet my pension that had there been no tree to start with, NOBODY would be coming into this thread saying "great work, but it really needs a tree to give it added dimension". Nobody. They'd just be saying "great work", and waxing lyrical about the excellence of the figures and the groundwork (and rightly so).

I also agree with Colin that the red "tree" is like no tree that I have ever seen in nature. To me it looks more like a diagram of a network of veins and arteries out of some medical textbook. The vignette is much better without it IMHO.

- Steve

 

[bwildfong]

Fantastic job Zeno! Stunningly painted figures (like the way the bluish tunics mimic the underlying rock at the base of the slope, and the leather work is awesome) and strong composition with the varying levels and leading lines - your vision at the beginning of this project has more than paid off - kudos sir!

Cheers,

Brian

 

[Martin64]

I really like your second take on the groundwork! The trunk with the fungus is now much more a focus of the scene - and rightly so - it looks like the real stuff and does not block the view on your great paintwork from any angle.
All the best!
Martin

 

[tiberius57]

Thank you so much for the great feedback! I'm glad that you like what you see.
As far as the Tree Saga, I decided to leave the vignette as it is (without the tree). In case I'll find one (Ulrich so kindly offered a solution - Thanks again Ulrich!!!) and it will make sense to use it, I'll reconsider.
Thanks again dear friends for all your thoughts and I'm glad that you like my paint and groundwork. It is very much appreciated!
Cheers,
Zeno

 

[maco61]

Fantastic figures Zeno!
I like them, with the tree or without.
Nice choice of colors.
Congratulations.
Ciao by Maco

 

[tiberius57]

Thanks Maco! Much appreciated!
Ciao,
Zeno